Tri fun: Introducing Meatloaf
May. 24th, 2006 10:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
andygatesNew bike! He's a Lemond Etape - alu frame, carbon fork, mixed Sora/Tiagra/Bontrager bits. Nice. Been used as a review bike so I got a discount that equated to the tri bars, TIme pedals and computer. Took him out for a tri-style spin yesterday and discovered some interesting things:
1) Tri bars are weird but yeah, they are comfy. They'd be more comfy if I didn't have to suck my belly up out of the way of my thighs.
2) Tri bars make you use your hams, glutes and lower back for power. I do not have this conditioning yet, and so today I ache. I use my quads. I use my quads a lot: I stand up, I deliver trod yea unto pedals, I don't do this hamstring spin lark. I am Quadzilla, hear me roar. So... I'll be doing hamstring work. Bah! Worth doing though: I can feel what the Kaiser-line churn-and-gurn could do for speed.
3) 9 miles / swim / 9 miles is hard enough without the pool being so full that there are thirteen people in the quietest lane. It was like a 50s Butlins or soviet holiday camp film. Bloomin' Swim4Free promotion!
4) I can set a bike up just right, just for me, first time. Ninja. And no, it's not excess, it's a 25th cycling anniversary present (!)
Of course he's got a name. My bikes all do. And yes, I wanted to give him something slick (behold the Dark Destroyer!) or silly (call me Bubbles, darling, everyone does) but he picked Meatloaf. Hm. Well, he's very American, retro to the 70s/early 80s when American road riding was cool, and me on a tri bike does have that Loafian mix of wild optimism and likely doom that fits. So Meatloaf it is. Whether I'll be riding like a bat out of hell or having a bad day - two out of three ain't bad - is another story.
1) Tri bars are weird but yeah, they are comfy. They'd be more comfy if I didn't have to suck my belly up out of the way of my thighs.
2) Tri bars make you use your hams, glutes and lower back for power. I do not have this conditioning yet, and so today I ache. I use my quads. I use my quads a lot: I stand up, I deliver trod yea unto pedals, I don't do this hamstring spin lark. I am Quadzilla, hear me roar. So... I'll be doing hamstring work. Bah! Worth doing though: I can feel what the Kaiser-line churn-and-gurn could do for speed.
3) 9 miles / swim / 9 miles is hard enough without the pool being so full that there are thirteen people in the quietest lane. It was like a 50s Butlins or soviet holiday camp film. Bloomin' Swim4Free promotion!
4) I can set a bike up just right, just for me, first time. Ninja. And no, it's not excess, it's a 25th cycling anniversary present (!)
Of course he's got a name. My bikes all do. And yes, I wanted to give him something slick (behold the Dark Destroyer!) or silly (call me Bubbles, darling, everyone does) but he picked Meatloaf. Hm. Well, he's very American, retro to the 70s/early 80s when American road riding was cool, and me on a tri bike does have that Loafian mix of wild optimism and likely doom that fits. So Meatloaf it is. Whether I'll be riding like a bat out of hell or having a bad day - two out of three ain't bad - is another story.
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no subject
Date: 2006-05-24 02:52 pm (UTC)My spin is indescribably sucky. Loaf is light and responsive enough sans fixie flywheel effect to really pulse forward with each tread. That's how mashy I am. Work to be done!
no subject
Date: 2006-05-24 03:30 pm (UTC)You know, I was about to ask "why?" when I got the mental image of the attempted theft. Some guy jumps on the bike, begins to pedal away madly, then stops his pedaling while he looks over his shoulder to see if there's pursuit, expecting to coast. Instead, the pedals shoot out from under his feet, the unexpected lack of resistance causes one leg to thump down into the pavement, and then the crank comes around into his calf -- by which point he's groundward bound anyway.
Shit. I'm surprised you don't got to a nice outdoor pub, get a pint, and leave the bike unchained nearby just so you can watch the fun.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-24 04:46 pm (UTC)Fixie theft is a spectator sport.
For the owner.
This year I'm planning on bumping Blackbird up to around 82" for an evening, for this precise reason.